by Mahesh Puri, Susheela Singh, Aparna Sundaram, Rubina Hussain, Anand Tamang, Marjorie Crowell
International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2016 DOI: 10.1363/42e2116
Resumé (FR), Resumen (SP) also available at this link Open Access
Abstract (+ excerpts from the main text)
Context: Although abortion has been legal under broad criteria in Nepal since 2002, a significant proportion of women continue to obtain illegal, unsafe abortions, and no national estimates exist of the incidence of safe and unsafe abortions.
Methods: Data were collected in 2014 from a nationally representative sample of 386 facilities that provide legal abortions or post-abortion care and a survey of 134 health professionals knowledgeable about abortion service provision. Facility caseloads and indirect estimation techniques were used to calculate the national and regional incidence of legal and illegal abortion. National and regional levels of abortion complications and unintended pregnancy were also estimated.
Results: In 2014, women in Nepal had 323,100 abortions, of which 137,000 were legal, and 63,200 women were treated for abortion complications. The abortion rate was 42 per 1,000 women aged 15–49, and the abortion ratio was 56 per 100 live births. The abortion rate in the Central region (59 per 1,000) was substantially higher than the national average. Overall, 50% of pregnancies were unintended, and the unintended pregnancy rate was 68 per 1,000 women of reproductive age.
During the past decade, the Ministry of Health has developed strategies for implementing the law and expanding access to safe and legal services. These strategies include training clinicians to perform abortions, providing them with necessary equipment, and certifying providers and health facilities (both of which need government approval to provide abortion services). All health facilities that have official approval to provide abortions are expected to perform first-trimester abortions. A few lower-level facilities, such as health posts, are approved only to provide medical abortion up to nine weeks’ gestation. To provide abortions after the first trimester, facilities need separate approval and are required to have staff members trained and certified to provide such abortions…
Of the 386 surveyed facilities, 63% offered legal abortion, post-abortion care or both. Provision of one or both services was nearly universal (88-100%) among large facilities, such as tertiary, district and private hospitals. In contrast, the proportion that provided either service was lower among small facilities, such as health posts (46%), sub-health posts (27%) and private clinics (56%). Nationally, a weighted total of 1,112 facilities provided one or both services.
Unapproved providers include medical practitioners (e.g., doctors, staff nurses, auxiliary nurse midwives) who have not been approved by the government; paramedics; pharmacists; traditional providers (e.g., trained and untrained traditional birth attendants, quacks, homeopathic doctors, and Ayurvedic and traditional healers); and women themselves (i.e., those who self-induce abortions).
Nepali women still face barriers, including lack of knowledge about the law, not knowing where they can access services, stigma, distance to reach providers and cost. However, abortion legalization has led to a decrease in the number of women presenting with severe abortion complications, and contributed to a decline in the country’s maternal mortality ratio, which fell from 580 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 1995 to 190 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013.
Conclusions : Despite legalization of abortion and expansion of services in Nepal, unsafe abortion is still common and exacts a heavy toll on women. Programs and policies to reduce rates of unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion, increase access to high-quality contraceptive care and expand safe abortion services are warranted.


Summary
The Global Bitumen Market was estimated at over 100 million tons in 2020 and the market is projected to register a CAGR of less than 4% during the forecast period (2021-2026). The market was negatively impacted by COVID-19 in 2020. According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) projections, the global GDP growth was projected to be -4.9% in 2020. However, in 2021 global growth is projected at 5.4%. Moreover, the performance of construction sector is projected to be affected moderately due to the impact on liquidity of money as a result of affected income of relatively larger section of the society, which is expected to affect the market studied. Declining investment in road and building construction segment led to a decrease in the consumption of bitumen in applications like road construction, waterproofing of building roof and basement, sealant, filler, and adhesive, which in turn negatively impacted the bitumen market.
- Over the short term, increasing road construction and repair activities and increasing demand of bitumen as filler, adhesive, and sealant from the commercial and domestic building construction sector are expected to drive the bitumen marketâ€™s growth. For instance, several major infrastructure construction investments are also noticed in Middle Eastern countries, where about 1,069 road projects were underway as of February 2020, which is likely to enhance the market demand in road construction and repair activities.
- Increasing environmental concerns regarding bitumen and unfavorable conditions arising due to the impact of COVID-19 are hindering the market's growth.
- R&D on bitumen processing to improve road infrastructure and development of high-performance bitumen products like shell cariphalte, shell mexphalte, and others are likely to create opportunities for the market in the coming years.
- Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate the market and is also likely to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Robust growth in construction activities in the Asia-Pacific region is also augmenting the growth of the market in the forecast period.
Key Market Trends
Increasing Demand Due to Increasing Road Construction Activities
- Most of the bitumen consumed is processed into asphalt for road construction. Asphalt is a mixture of rock aggregates and bitumen. Bitumen serves as a binding agent and thus, is responsible for the stability of asphalt.
- Depending on the type of bitumen or composition of the mixture used, asphalt roads can be made suitable for regions with different climatic conditions or various levels of operational demands. Asphalt is also used for airport runways, parking decks, and working areas in ports.
- Roadways are one of the key sectors that determine a countryâ€™s economic growth. Roads, airport runways, and parking decks are essential services that drive economic activity by channelizing trade and mobility. Massive investments are required that help in the modernization and maintenance of these systems.
- In 2019, the United States new highway and street construction sector was valued at about USD 97.56 billion and is estimated to reach about USD 107.74 billion by 2024, with a CAGR of about 2%, which is likely to stimulate the demand for the bitumen market.
- Globally, the infrastructure sector is experiencing stable growth, as a result of increased government spending to promote local infrastructure. In keeping pace with the growing economic activity and shifting demographic trends, spending on infrastructure activities is largely driven by developing economies in comparison to developed economies
- In developing economies in Asia-Pacific, infrastructure activities are expected to increase significantly, especially in the transportation sector, owing to increasing urbanization and shifting focus toward developing secondary sector in these countries. Furthermore, increasing economic prosperity is driving the infrastructure financing toward consumer sectors, including transportation and manufacturing, which provide and distribute raw materials for consumer goods.
- Indiaâ€™s recently passed budget includes expenditure on the development of National Highways, including Delhi-Mumbai, Ahmedabad-Dholera, and Amritsar-Jamnagar expressways which are scheduled for completion by March 2023. Additionally, 19 other projects are to be completed by March 2025, which is expected to increase the demand of bitumen in the coming years.
- As these sectors have the potential to fetch larger investments in the near future, the governments of developing economies (such as China and India, among others) are taking initiatives by floating tenders reflecting opportunities in building infrastructure, essential for the growth of a specific sector. Furthermore, the emergence of megacities in both, emerging and developed markets, which reflects the shifting economic and demographic trends, will create an enormous need for new infrastructure.
- Owing to all these factors, the bitumen market is likely to grow globally during the forecast period.
Asia-Pacific Region is Expected to Dominate the Market
- Asia-Pacific region dominated the global market share. In Asia-Pacific, China is the largest economy, the growth in the country remains high, but is gradually diminishing, as the population is aging and the economy is rebalancing from investment to consumption, manufacturing to services, and external to internal demand.
- While the residential sector is enjoying a strong recovery, the results for the office, retail, and logistics sectors have been mixed. The office markets in Tier 1 cities (including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen) generally remain healthy and continue to enjoy strong demand for office space, driven by the information technology (IT) and finance sectors.
- Besides this, significant development of rail and road infrastructure by the Chinese government, to withstand the growing industrial and service sectors, has resulted in significant growth of the Chinese construction industry in recent years. As the construction industry is dominated by state-owned enterprises, increased government spending is boosting the industry in the country.
- Meanwhile in Guizhou Province, China Gezhouba Group Road & Bridge has won a package of works for the construction of two highway projects. The firm is expected to work on the new highway connecting Nayong with Qinglong as well as the highway between Liuzhi and Anlong. The two projects are worth a total of around USD 8.68 billion. China Gezhouba Group Road & Bridgeâ€™s share of the contracts is worth an estimated USD1.27 billion.
- Moreover, to contain the growing greenhouse gas predicaments in Chinaâ€™s major cities, the countryâ€™s national climate commitment calls for 50% of all new buildings constructed by 2020 to be certified as green buildings, while its 13th Five-year Plan prioritizes building efficiency. Following these commitments, the countryâ€™s green building sector is expected to increase from 5% to 28% by 2030, representing a USD 12.9 trillion investment opportunity. This is expected to propel the market during the forecast period.
- India has the second-largest road network in the world in terms of length covered with a value of 5.89 million kilometers and the Indian roads sector is likely to account for 18% of the capital expenditure over FY 2019-25, which in turn stimulates the demand for bitumen market.
- In 2020, the total length of national highways in India is currently around 1,34,400 kilometres and the aim is to add another 60,000 kilometres by 2025, which is likely to stimulate the demand of bitumen market in the country.
- The major upcoming projects in the country, which are likely to increase the demand for the bitumen market are The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, Bharatmala Project, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT), Smart City Kochi, and Navi Mumbai International Airport.
- In 2020, the government launched the work for the strategic 14.15 kilometres-long Zojila tunnel which will provide all-year connectivity between Srinagar valley and Leh. Many national highway projects and road projects under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana have been started by the Indian government like the National Highway project of Kerala with a value of USD 2.67 billion, etc., which is expected to stimulate the demand for bitumen.
- Due to all such factors, the market for bitumen in the region is expected to have rapid growth during the forecast period.
Competitive Landscape
The bitumen market is fragmented with no major players having a dominant share in the market. Some of the major players in the market include Exxon Mobil Corporation, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, bp p.l.c., Royal Dutch Shell Plc, and Nynas AB, among others.
Reasons to Purchase this report:
- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
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Due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, sub-Saharan populations are challenged with increasing adult mortality rates that have potentially profound economic implications. Yet, little is known about the impact of adult deaths in African households. Using panel data from Tanzania, this paper will explore how prime-age adult mortality impacts the time allocation of surviving household members and the portfolio of household farming activities. Analysis of farm and chore hours across demographic groups generally found small and insignificant changes in labor supply of individuals in households experiencing a prime-age adult death. While some farm activities are temporarily scaled back and wage employment falls after a male death, households did not shift cultivation towards subsistence food farming and did not appear to have reduced their diversification over income sources more than six months after a death.


This paper examines the issue of authority in cultural productions, by investigating the cultural production and practices of “privileged cultural producers” within the Iranian transnational sphere. This paper is based on ethnographic fieldwork in Tehran among a dowre of young Iranian professionals and students who meet regularly to discuss philosophical, political, and cultural questions. This ten-year-old group provides significant insights into the intersection between constructions of the “Iranian immigrant” in state and popular imagination, and representations of the Iranian nation as mediated through transnational flows of people and media. Ethnographic insights from their bi-weekly dowre reveal their narrative of "Iranian-ness" and the performance of their identity as “intellectuals” within increasingly transnational networks.
In order to understand their unique role within the broader politics of representation, the paper identifies the significance of elites and high skilled workers/the "brain drain" in the history of Iranian migration to the United States. As Iranian graduate students on F-1 visas have become a significant group within the recent wave of Iranian immigration to the United States, the Iranian state has become increasingly concerned with the consequences of this problem of “brain drain.” The informants I encountered in my research have had a significant presence online and within the diaspora. By drawing out the ways they have offered distinct representations (from the earlier wave of satellite television producers), I argue that the Internet has played a key role in enabling the expression of already authorized cultural producers.
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In a survey sent out by Autism Parenting Magazine to more than 160,000 email subscribers around the world, 18.6% of respondents confirmed they use CBD for a child on the spectrum to help relieve a variety of autism symptoms. Breaking the data down further, 22.16% of USA-based caregivers use CBD versus 14.29% of UK caregivers.
A total of 72.4% of respondents identified themselves as autism parents, while the remaining participants were grandparents, full-time carers, teachers, therapists, doctors, or individuals on the spectrum.
The data revealed 76.3% of participants use CBD only, 13.7% use CBD/THC combination, while the remaining 10% use “Other” forms including Hemp, CBD/THC & Epidiolex (just CBD), and CBD with Terpenes, among others.
When asked to identify the primary reason for using CBD with their child, 42.9% responded with anxiety relief, 36.9% stated challenging behavior, 5.1% said pain relief and inflammation, 8.1% said sleep and relaxation, 4.3% said seizures, while the remaining respondents identified “Other” reasons such as increasing speech and supporting potty training.
A large number of respondents use CBD for a teenager on the spectrum with 21.39% of CBD users confirming their child is aged 13 to 18.
When asked if they started using CBD during the COVID-19 pandemic, a whopping 31.3% said yes. Meanwhile, 16.6% have increased the amount of CBD they give their child since the pandemic began.
Another interesting find was that only 20.1% have adoctor’s prescription for CBD usage. Despite this, 21.7% reported it was their doctor who recommended trying CBD. Meanwhile, 27.4% were recommended by a friend or family member and 23.6% were recommended by another autistic parent. The remaining respondents selected “Other” with many saying usages stemmed from their own research.
When asked if they would recommend CBD products to other parents on the spectrum, a huge majority of 82.9% said they would.
Oils (oral drops and topical sprays) were the preferred CBD format, with 60.8% of respondents opting to use these. Meanwhile, 21.5% use gummies and topicals, 7.5% use capsules or tablets, 5.1% use lotions or balms, and 1.9% use vape. The remaining respondents selected “Other” options including honey sticks and patches.
Responding to how often they use CBD products, 46.4% said “daily”, 28.6% replied “only occasionally”, 3.6% said “weekly” and the remaining participants gave “Other” responses including mentioning they no longer use CBD or do so infrequently.
It is clear from the survey data, as well as multiple other studies on CBD usage for children on the spectrum, that more and more parents are considering CBD products. Initial results showing the impact of CBD on autistic children are encouraging, with anxiety, challenging behaviors, and sleep issues all appearing to reduce for those that try these products.


Abstract
A key requirement of electrospray ionization (ESI) and other techniques facilitating ionization at elevated pressures is the efficient transport of free gas-phase ions into the high vacuum region of the mass spectrometer. Radio frequency (RE) multipole ion guides that allow for collisional cooling are one of the most popular means of achieving this. However, their performance is highly dependent on several experimental factors, including pressure and various electrode potentials along the ion path. To experimentally visualize these effects, we have employed a position-sensitive detector at the exit of a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) instrument operated in RF only mode that employs an RE only octopole as a collisional cooling ion guide. This allows the spatial distribution of the ions, and its,dependence on experimentally determined conditions, to be directly visualized at the exit of the quadrupole. This investigation provides a detailed insight into the ion dynamics occurring inside multipole ion guides. This knowledge can directly be applied to instrument development and to improve the ion transmission efficiency and, thus, sensitivity: Numerical simulations Using custom-developed trajectory simulation software are compared and contrasted with the :experimental observations.


Bizzdesign ranks among top 3 in 4 out of 5 use cases
Which EA platform is the best for your organization?
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While the companion Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ positions vendors in the market, the Critical Capabilities provides a deeper dive into the providers’ product and service offerings based on key capabilities set to important, differentiating use cases. See how the vendors rank in the following use cases: Capture, Structure, Analyze and Present Models Support Change, Transformation and Optimization Assess and Manage an Evolving IT Portfolio Enterprise Architecture Management Innovation The 3 key findings in this report:
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"EA tools involve significant investments in time and resources to configure, populate and maintain. Although necessary for long-term success, low-maturity organizations might incorrectly assume that an EA tool will be sufficient to successfully kick off an EA program and resolve all their challenges. by extending the Magic Quadrant analysis."
We invite you to download your complimentary copy to learn more.


Nov 16, 2022
The term “cancel culture” is a buzzword these days. Nevertheless, it deserves thoughtful analysis.
Nowhere is cancel culture more apparent than on college and university campuses. According to a 2021 survey, more than 80% of American college students reported censoring themselves at least some of the time.
This...
May 10, 2022
Change is hard.
In 1973, Oregon Governor Tom McCall created a pioneering land use policy focused on preserving farmland, reducing pollution and preventing urban sprawl. At the time, it was a visionary move that took bold political leadership.
But what seemed visionary 50 years ago has played a pivotal role in creating...


… aims to providing convenient on line access to all the existent series. This is an ongoing endeavour, and we will progressively update the base with new observations, as authors extend the series forwards and backwards. Despite the database’s name, we will also add information on the distribution of earnings and the distribution of wealth.
So far the database includes data on twenty-two countries with forty-five further countries under study. Data can be retrieved by country, date, and variable, and retrieved data can be downloaded as excel spreadsheet.


France: Redundancy for economic reasons: definition of economic difficulties
Article L. 1233-3 of the French Labour Code defines what constitutes valid economic grounds for dismissal.
Amongst these grounds are “economic difficulties”, the existence of which may be characterised in one of two ways:
either by a significant change in at least one economic indicator. This may be a drop in orders or turnover, operating losses or a deterioration in cash flow or gross operating surplus. or by any other element likely to justify the existence of these difficulties.
Accounting indicators are defined to assess the extent of the decline in orders or turnover. The duration of these indicators’ downturn is also set out, a distinction being made depending on the size of the company. For instance, where a company with a workforce of 300 or more employees is concerned, the duration of the downturn must be of at least four consecutive quarters compared to the same period of the previous year.
Last June, the French judicial Supreme Court ruled that the duration of the downturn is assessed by comparing order or turnover levels at the date the dismissal is notified with those of the previous year over the same period.
For example, if the redundancy is notified in July 2022, the 4 previous quarters from June 2021 to June 2022 must be compared to the 4 quarters from June 2020 to June 2021. Therefore, a slight increase in turnover in January 2022, for instance, will cause the economic rationale to topple.
In this case, only the criterion of a decline in turnover was invoked.
However, in a September 21
st, 2022, ruling, the French judicial Supreme Court held that if the reality of the economic indicator relating to the decline in turnover is not established, the judge must investigate whether the existence of economic difficulties is not characterised by another element. In the case that gave rise to this ruling, the employer had invoked a drop in turnover, but also equity capital of less than half the share capital and a very high level of debt. Key Action Points for Human Resources and In-house Counsel
It is therefore necessary to be vigilant when motivating the economic rationale for dismissal.


In a world where we are continuously bombarded with stimuli, it is more vital than ever to establish a home that is pleasant and calming. A tranquil and pleasant house may bring much-needed relief from the daily stress. Fortunately, there are a number of easy house improvements that can be made quickly to improve the ambience. This blog article will cover some of our top recommendations!
Opt for soft lighting
Lighting is one of the quickest and easiest methods to improve the ambience of your house. Soft, warm lighting can make a place feel more inviting and enhance its atmosphere. Consider investing in some attractive lamps or string lights if you prefer something more permanent than candles.
When selecting the proper lighting for your house, it is essential to consider the desired atmosphere. If you desire a pleasant environment, you should avoid strong overhead lighting. Choose instead lamps that emit a warm and pleasant glow.
Decorative water features
An indoor water feature is another fantastic method to improve the ambience of your house. The calming sound of running water might assist to create a more tranquil environment in your house. Indoor water features are available in a number of forms and styles, so you can find one that complements your space. There are options for everyone, ranging from little indoor water features to enormous floor fountains. There are even water elements that are also pieces of art! Specifically, wall-mounted water fountains may be the main point of any space. Before purchasing an indoor water feature, be careful to conduct research. Despite the fact that they are often low-maintenance, some require more attention than others.
Plants give a place life.
Adding plants is another fantastic method to improve the ambience of your house. Plants not only provide visual appeal, but they help filter the air and improve your mood. Don’t worry if you don’t have a green thumb! There are several low-maintenance choices available. Succulents and cactus are usually fantastic options, as are snake plants and peace lilies.
Specifically, snake plants are recognized for their capacity to enhance air quality. They are an excellent addition to bedrooms since they release oxygen at night. On the other hand, peace lilies are renowned for their ability to decrease tension and induce calm.
Add some comfy fabrics.
Additionally, you may make your house more inviting by adding comfortable linens. Throw blankets and pillows are always pleasant additions, and they may significantly contribute to coziness. Textured textiles, such as velvet or wool, are very effective in producing an inviting environment.
Consider purchasing a cozy area rug if you are in a region with cold winters. Not only will it offer flair and warmth to your area, but it will also keep your feet warm and comfortable.
When selecting fabrics for your house, consider colors and patterns that you enjoy. This will help you create a welcoming and personal atmosphere.
Set up a focal point
Creating a focal point is a terrific way to bring attention to a space. This might be a piece of artwork, a fireplace, or even a wide window. After identifying the main point, you may arrange the furniture and décor around it. This will assist create a place that is more unified and appealing. For instance, if you want to display a magnificent piece of art, consider hanging it above your fireplace. Alternatively, if you have a huge window with a breathtaking view, position your furniture so it faces the window. Through the creation of a focal point, you may make your area more attractive and pleasurable.
Mirrors are your best buddy
Utilizing mirrors is another wonderful technique for enhancing the mood of your house. Mirrors may reflect light and make a room feel brighter and larger by reflecting light. Additionally, they can be utilized to create the appearance of a focal point. For instance, you may hang a mirror above a tiny fireplace to make it appear larger.
Additionally, mirrors can be used to provide the illusion of more windows. If your room seems dim and claustrophobic, consider placing a mirror on one of the walls. This will serve to reflect light and expand the space’s perception of size and openness.
Have fun with scent
Scents are a potent tool for enhancing the environment of your house. Certain aromas can enhance your mood, but others might help you relax and de-stress. If you want to make your house feel more inviting, consider adding essential oils or candles. Lavender, for example, is renowned for its ability to promote calm. You may diffuse it in your bedroom or living area to help you relax at the end of a busy day. Or, if you wish to increase your energy levels, consider utilizing citrus essential oils such as lemon or grapefruit.
Additionally, you may consider burning candles in your home. You will be able to select a candle that meets your needs, since they come in a range of fragrances.
Add inviting details to your entrance door
Your front entrance is the first thing visitors to your house see, therefore it is essential to make a good impression. You may do this by adding coziness to your foyer.
Try laying a welcome mat in front of your door and flanking it with potted plants. Additionally, you may hang a wreath or a piece of art. These minor adjustments will make your house feel more inviting and warm.
Additionally, benches and coat racks are wonderful accents to a front entryway. They permit visitors to sit and remove their footwear. They may also help you make your home look cleaner and more organized.
By implementing these straightforward suggestions, you may rapidly enhance the ambience of your house. By including a few plants, comfortable linens, and fragrant candles, you may change your area into a refuge where you’ll enjoy spending time. Additionally, your guests will notice the difference.


The Strengthening Urban Resilience and Engagement (SURE) program developed a Participatory Campaign Planning (PCP) process to improve disaster messaging and increase awareness of disaster risks and mitigation measures among vulnerable groups in Nepal.
The project included a series of interactive workshops to determine which messages and means of communicating would most effectively reach each of the target groups. An analysis of the workshop findings showed that crucial elements to consider when targeting hazard messaging include: financial resources, existing knowledge, physical infrastructure, natural resources, the legal system, and social status.
While it’s too early to determine the SURE program’s long-term impacts, the project has received positive feedback from the groups involved and has led to more customized messaging aimed at target groups. The project’s findings also give further support the idea that a blanket approach to disaster messaging is ineffective in creating behavior change.
https://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/2018-asian-ministerial-conference-disaster-risk-redu…


A copy of this work was available on the public web and has been preserved in the Wayback Machine. The capture dates from 2022; you can also visit the original URL.The file type is
application/pdf.
Nowadays, big data plays a crucial role for many online e-commerce businesses to generate more sales. Big data is a huge collection of data and information which are utilized by many organizations to forecast which products, costs, and advertisements are better to maximize their business profits. This paper aims to apply the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) based model to forecast sales growth of online products, specifically books and magazines, from massive datasets present in onlinedoi:10.18090/samriddhi.v14i01.18 fatcat:qdlkfyuwv5f3vbsxx3b3hizxq4


Growth Hormone
Growth Hormone is not only responsible for allowing your muscle tissue to rebuild, it is also needed for every cell in your body to repair.
The problem is that most adults have a poor quality of deep sleep.
It can be measured with devices such as FitBits and Apple watches.
It can also be measured with elaborate devices like Sonar and EEG, like what I use.
Deep Sleep typically becomes more problematic, and shorter as we age.
In fact, Alzheimer's patients generate little to no deep sleep and this is typically the cause of death.


On 5th August 2021, UYAHF in partnership with the Moroto District health office organized a one-day coordination meeting and smart advocacy capacity building training for mapped youth-led and youth-serving organizations in Moroto district.
The training among others, aimed at building capacities of the youth leaders in SMART advocacy and accountability, research and evidence generation, communication, documentation, and coordination; as well as creating an opportunity for learning and sharing among the mapped youth-led and youth-serving organizations.
During the training, UYAHF Officers Nakkazi Joan and Nakato Joyce oriented participants on UYAHF mandate; youth challenging barriers and biases to SRHR, and then built their capacity on SMART advocacy.
The one-day meeting and training attracted 18 participants including CSO, Youth-led and youth-serving organizations and it was graced by the Moroto district D.H.O and the Biostatistician.
The participants included nine males and nine females. 14 of the 17 were young people between the age of 20-35 while 3 were adults between the age of 36-65 years.
After the session, the excited participants rated SMART advocacy as a good approach to enhance their abilities to support advocacy for many young people-related issues in Moroto.
Following the training, participants reported to have gained confidence in SMART advocacy with 9 mentioning they were confident to set SMART goals and objectives; 3 stated techniques of SMART advocacy and campaigning, 4 stated reasons for SMART advocacy and how to ensure SMART goal and objectives while one said it was a new concept which is liked and will embrace to build confidence with time.
The Participants further committed to using the knowledge and skills gained in their communities to advocate against SRHR related challenges including essential and life-saving SRHR services like preventing unsafe abortions and post-abortion care, existing harmful cultural practices such as FGM and the consistent high teenage pregnancies that have been caused by cultural believes, parental negligence and COVID-19 lockdown.


Many people think that being the Whistleblower in illegal activity is terrible, but the reality is that even if it can be scary, it is the right thing to do.
It represents many risks, but with the correct legal help, you can help achieve justice. If you witness illegal or fraudulent activity, you should contact a whistleblower protection lawyer before taking action.
Do you know what a Whistleblower is?
A whistleblower is an individual who literally blows the whistle to stop wrongdoing against the state or federal government. This action is common in the workplace when an employee stands up for illegal conduct in their workplace. Federal laws and California whistleblower laws protect public and private employees alike. These laws prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who disclose information that the employee believes involves a violation of state or federal law or refuse to participate in an activity that would violate a state, federal, or local law.
This action is widespread in fraudulent activities, such as:
– Avoiding Taxes
– Avoiding Licensing Fees
– Withholding Payments or Reimbursements
– Discriminatory or Unlawful Hiring Practices
– Submitting Fraudulent Invoices
Fortunately, California whistleblowers are protected under the False Claims Act and state and federal Whistleblower Acts. This type of protection includes employers being prohibited from retaliating against a whistleblower. Also, employers cannot retaliate against employees who refuse to partake in illegal or unethical activities. Lastly, if a verdict or settlement is reached in a Qui tam case, the Whistleblower could receive up to 30% of the recovered amount.
The team at Aiman-Smith & Marcy is here to protect your rights and help you fight against illegal activity.


A panel at the 2014 World Congress of Accountants explored the qualities of an effective audit committee. Interestingly, their recommendations included:
Diverse mix of skills and expertise including a greater knowledge of technology; Access to external experts when necessary; An eye to future risks; Communication skills to engage other committee members, management, external auditors, and internal auditors; A robust definition of independence.


Property tax revenue for local governments in California increased 6 percent in 2021, the State Board of Equalization reported March 17 in its 2020-21 Annual Report.
Statewide, the total value of county-assessed property was $7.1 trillion, resulting in $79.9 billion of local property tax levies, the BOE reported.
“Those property tax levies contributed $43 billion to schools and $36.9 billion to local government,” the agency noted in a news release. “This is an additional $4.5 billion, or a 6 percent increase, in property tax levies from FY 2019-20 of $75.4 billion.”
Additionally, the value of state-assessed property increased $3.5 billion from the prior year, reaching $123.2 billion for the 2021-22 roll. “State-assessed properties produced $1.94 billion in local property tax revenues for the state’s 58 counties in 2021-22,” the report stated.
“The increase in property tax levies to almost $80 billion is a clear reflection of California’s vibrant real estate market,” BOE Chair Malia Cohen said. “As we transition away from the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am heartened that these additional property tax revenues will provide significant funding for our schools and critical local government services.”
The Annual Report includes state- and county-assessed property values, aggregate qualifying property tax exemptions, and other statewide property tax data.


One of the most common causes of urinary and prolapse symptoms is the thinning our of the vaginal mucous membranes after menopause. These symptoms can often be improved or completely alleviated by a hormone treatment locally as in cremes, suppositories or tablets.
Urge urinary incontinence is often treated with medications to relax the overactive bladder muscle.


Confident, Resilient & Resourceful
Empowerment 4 Girls exists to provide all girls and non-binary youth ages 10-15 with the tools, life skills, and support network to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally in their adolescence and throughout their lives.
STRONG GIRLS = STRONG WORLD
Empowerment 4 Girls programs fill a gap in social support and affirming spaces for girls at a critical life phase when they are forming identities and learning to cope with numerous stressors that put them at risk for depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
Our social-emotional and sex education programs are trauma-informed, guided by WA Education Standards, and align with expert-recommended strategies to support the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of girls as they navigate the journey from adolescence to adulthood.


If all government funding to U.S. colleges and universities were spent only on education (not housing, buildings, food, administration, etc.), what portion of higher education in the U.S. would be funded by government?
Correct Answer
During 2017, federal, state and local governments spent $197 billion on higher education. This amounts to 80% of all spending by public and private colleges on functions that directly contribute to the education of students and the general public, including instruction, public service, and academic support.
DocumentationHigher Education Spending


Getting the most out of our technology
October 6, 2020
Our technology, which includes the internet, social media, AI, and all the ways they interact, is magic. But this magic comes at a cost. As we continue to hunt for information, truths, and the right answers, we get accustomed to not being in the dark. This whole pandemic has put us all in a state of uncertainty, and due to our increased fear of being in the dark, has been a challenge for many.
This Aldus Huxley quote is perfect for this time, as we lean increasingly on tech to feel like we are connected. At the same time, we are learning that tech is not as benevolent or innocuous as we would like to imagine. We are faced with a multitude of questions today and the only way to answer these questions, which are coming from within each of us, is to take time away from our screens. We need to be quiet and not have the thoughts and ideas of others infiltrate our lives. The tech magic, which allows me to spread my message, is not always on our side, and we can never truly know if it ever is I love you,


176 search results Covalent Bonding: Electron Dot Diagrams
Given descriptions, diagrams, scenarios, or chemical symbols, students will model covalent bonds using electron dot formula (Lewis structures).
Taxonomy Standards
Given examples, students will recognize the importance of taxonomy to the scientific community.
Taxonomy: Major Groups
Given illustrations or descriptions, students will determine the classification of organisms into domains and kingdoms.
Homeostasis: Ecological Systems
Given images, videos, or scenarios, identify and describe the responses of organisms, populations, and communities to various changes in their external environment.
Biological Systems: Homeostasis
Identify and describe internal feedback mechanisms involved in maintaining homeostasis given scenarios, illustrations, or descriptions.
Relationships Between Organisms: Food Chains, Webs, and Pyramids
Given illustrations, students will analyze the flow of matter and energy in food chains, food webs, and ecological pyramids.
Organisms' Adaptations
Given scenarios, illustrations. or descriptions, the student will compare variations and adaptations of organisms in different ecosystems.
Cell Homeostasis: Osmosis
The focus of this resource is cell homeostasis and, more specifically, osmosis. Students investigate the concept through a virtual lab, recording and analyzing data, creating sketches to represent vocabulary, and discovering the role of aquaporins in water transport through the cell membrane.
Objects in Motion
This resource provides flexible alternate or additional learning activities for students learning about the concepts of distance, speed, and acceleration. IPC TEKS (4)(A)
Newton's Three Laws of Motion
This resource provides alternate or additional learning opportunities for students learning the three Newton's Laws of Motion. It includes a collection of interactive materilas, videos, and other digital media. Physics TEKS, (4)(D)
What’s Trending with the Elements?
This resource, aligned with Chemistry TEKS (5)(C), provides alternative or additional tier-one learning options for students using the periodic table to identify and explain trends.
Cell Comparisons
Learners compare a variety of prokaryotes and eukaryotes to determine similarities and differences among and between them.
Monohybrid and Dihybrid Crosses
Learners calculate the probability of genotypic inheritance and phenotypic expression using mono- and dihybrid crosses.
Mechanisms of Evolution Beyond Natural Selection
Learners analyze and evaluate the effects of other evolutionary mechanisms.
Evidence for Evolution
Learners analyze and evaluate how evidence of common ancestry among groups is provided by the fossil record, biogeography, and homologies, including anatomical, molecular, and developmental.
Introduction to Plate Tectonics
This resource is intended to use for Tier I classroom instruction.
Human Impact
This resource can be used, in conjunction with best practices, for Tier I classroom instruction.
Introducing the Atom
A resource to be used for Tier I instruction for the introduction of the structure of atoms.
Equipment for Biology
Given investigation scenarios, students will determine the equipment that best fits the procedure.
Disruptions of the Cell Cycle: Cancer
Given illustrations or descriptions, students will identify disruptions of the cell cycle that lead to diseases such as cancer.


Do you eat fermented foods? They are filled with healthy bacteria that make the gut feel good. If you struggle with the winter blues you may want to consider adding the following feel-good fermented food to your daily diet. Here are my top 10 favorites.
Sauerkraut Any veggies: carrot, radish, cucumber, cauliflower Kimchi Yogurt Sourdough Idli Beet Kvass Miso Tempeh Fermented fat: nut-based cheeses
Fermented foods are fantastic to consume for health and wellness. I personally find it easier to consume in the cold winter months when there is less sweet fruit in season. I am less drawn to having fermented foods during the hot season. However, in the cold months, fermented foods go well with winter seasonal produce like greens, root veggies, winter squash.
Which fermented foods are you committed to eating this winter? Share in the comments below. 🙂


Abstract
Giardiasis is the most common intestinal parasitic infection in the United States. The organism elicits no, or minimal, inflammatory changes in duodenal biopsy samples, so it can be easily overlooked. We performed this study to determine whether Giardia could be isolated from the formalin fixative of biopsy samples, and to evaluate the value of fluid analysis in the assessment for potential infection. We prospectively evaluated duodenal biopsy samples from 92 patients with a clinical suspicion of giardiasis or symptoms compatible with that diagnosis (ie, diarrhea, bloating, or abdominal pain) Biopsy samples were routinely processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Histologic diagnoses included giardiasis (5 cases, 4%), normal findings (64 cases, 70%), peptic injury/active duodenitis (12 cases, 13%), and intraepithelial lymphocytosis with villous blunting (10 cases, 12%). Fifteen cases (13%) showed detached degenerated epithelial cells or mucus droplets in the intervillous space that resembled Giardia. Cytology slides were prepared from formalin in the biopsy container using the standard Cytospin protocol and reviewed by a cytopathologist blinded to the biopsy findings. Cytologic evaluation revealed Giardia spp. in all 5 biopsy-proven cases, and identified an additional case that was not detected by biopsy analysis. Organisms were significantly more numerous (mean: 400 trophozoites; range, 120 to 810) and showed better morphologic features in cytology preparations compared with tissue sections (mean: 129 trophozoites; range, 37 to 253 organisms; P=0.05). Our findings suggest that cytology preparations from formalin fixative can resolve diagnostically challenging cases and even enhance Giardia detection in some cases.
Keywords Cytospin gastrointestinal disease giardiasis pathology ASJC Scopus subject areas Anatomy Surgery Pathology and Forensic Medicine


The Clean Energy demonstration challenge, spearheaded by the United States, has been granted €28 billion by the European Commission to aid in the commercialization of new technologies and speed up the energy transition.
As part of a larger push to reach net zero emissions by 2050, US Vice President Joe Biden launched the clean energy challenge in June, promising $90 billion in public investment from 2022 to 2026. Funding from the EU is provided through the Horizon Europe research program, the Innovation Fund, and InvestEU.
Industries that have a hard time transitioning away from fossil fuels include steel production; the government funding is meant to attract private investment to speed up the rollout of large-scale clean energy technology demonstration projects.
The eventual $94 billion in pledges to the Clean Energy Technologies demonstration challenge far above projections.
In addition to the European Commission, governments from Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom are all participating in the challenge.
Hybrit is a European project that aims to replace coking coal with fossil-free power and hydrogen, making it the first technology of its kind in the world. The Swedish steel and iron industries, as well as the Swedish energy industry, are all contributing to the development of Hybrit.
With initiatives like the Hydrogen Strategy and REPowerEU, the Commission aims to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and boost energy security in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The European Bauhaus, the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, and the Bill Gates Breakthrough Energy initiative have all been funded out of the Horizon budget, raising worries among member states that the Commission is diverting resources away from fundamental R&D.


In this episode of the Mental Health Matters podcast, PFCS Board Member Don Romo discusses the system of care for people living with mental illness and his lived experience as a parent. His insight and perspective enriches our Board of Directors. We are honored that...
PFCS Therapist Stephanie Rivera discusses how the mental health of parents can impact young children. Stephanie also discusses how to address behavioral challenges in preschool aged children and the impact adverse childhood experiences can have on adolescents.
Summer heat can be more than uncomfortable; it can threaten your health, especially for older adults and children. Hot and humid weather can make it more challenging for your body to cool down, leading to heat-related illnesses. Three types of such illnesses include...


The following content is by
Kim Lynes, a 3P contributor at TriplePundit.
This article was originally published on May 24th
For most companies today, a philanthropic arm of the business is not a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have. This is because social responsibility efforts now influence four key areas that corporations rely on for success: consumer purchasing behavior, employee retention and acquisition, attractiveness to investors, and business growth. To be considered an organization that is sustainable both now and in the future, you need a comprehensive, strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. A successful CSR program reaches across an organization, with all departments focused on improving the triple bottom line (social, environmental, and financial goals) and showing tangible, meaningful impact. In this paper, we will explore what drove this transformation and shift in expectations for corporations and their social actions and how it has positioned corporations as a key player in the broader social economy.
Changes That Caused This Shift
We can explain the shift in the public’s expectations of CSR programs with one word: accountability. There has been a growing trend across all sectors (government, public, and private) where sitting on the sidelines as global issues and concerns grow is no longer an accepted practice. A large driver of this change is visibility brought about by social media, and the ability of the public to not only directly interact with organizations, but hold them accountable as well.
Another key initiative driving more accountability from corporations and their CSR programs is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative is important because it provides something new for corporations: a framework that companies can follow for creating and scaling their corporate responsibility strategy that also considers their business goals (“How Companies Can Champion Sustainable Development,”
HBR). The SDGs contain 17 goals—an overwhelming amount for most. However, corporations have begun to identify those areas most relevant to their operations and commit their resources to affect those specific goals. IMPACT 2030 was also developed by the private sector to help guide corporations in achieving the SDGs through employee volunteer programs. Finally, the United Nations Global Compact is an initiative created by CEOs, so companies can align their strategies and operations with certain societal goals. Dubbed the “world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative,” by UN Global Compact, it is yet another way global companies have taken steps toward incorporating CSR into their core business practices.
This theme of strategizing CSR efforts and focusing efforts where it makes sense for your organization is one that has risen with the evolution of corporations’ roles in the social good economy. Why? Again, accountability. It isn’t good enough anymore to treat CSR as an aside that is separate from your core operations. Not having a CSR strategy or not following through on your CSR goals can negatively affect your brand value with consumers, potential employees, and investors.”


New Britain Truck Accident Lawyer
If you were recently injured in a truck accident, you should immediately retain a skilled truck accident lawyer. Truck accidents require victims to undergo expensive medical treatment due to their permanent injuries. The experienced New Britain truck accident lawyers at Carter Mario Law Firm have been successfully litigating truck accident lawsuits throughout the various courts in Connecticut for over 30 years.
Rely on Carter Mario’s Over 30 Years of Experience
Truck accident victims need the services of an experienced personal injury attorney. Many attorneys decline to represent truck accident victims as they do not want to prosecute complex cases. The New Britain truck accident lawyers at Carter Mario Law Firm have spent over 30 years litigating complex cases against insurance defense attorneys and obtaining favorable results for their injured clients.
What You Should Do After a Truck Accident
If your injuries are not life-threatening, you should check to see if any other person was injured due to the collision. You should also contact 911 to report the crash and collect possible witnesses’ names and contact information. Then, you should obtain medical treatment for your injuries. Finally, after receiving medical treatment, talk with a truck accident lawyer in New Britain for help during your claim and potential lawsuit.
Who is Responsible for a Trucking Collision?
In general, the truck driver and the trucking company may both be responsible for a truck collision. While the facts of each case are different, many trucking collisions are due to negligent conduct by the truck driver and the trucking company. For example, common causes of trucking collisions include:
Improper maintenance Excessive loads Negligent hiring practices Drug and alcohol use Illegal maneuvers Driver fatigue Proving Negligence in a Truck Accident Claim
To win a truck accident lawsuit, you must prove the truck driver and the trucking company committed an act of negligence which subsequently caused your injuries. Specifically, you must prove both elements of your case by a preponderance of the evidence,
i.e., 51%. You are more likely to satisfy this burden if you present proof of negligence, such as black box data or Federally mandated post-accident drug tests results. Truck Accidents vs Other Motor Vehicles
While collisions involving regular passenger vehicles cause victims to suffer injuries, truck accidents produce far more severe injuries. Commercial trucks are significantly larger and heavier than standard passenger vehicles. Accordingly, a collision involving a commercial truck involves more kinetic energy.
Injuries Resulting from Truck Collisions
Truck accidents feature collisions involving 40-ton vehicles. The mass and kinetic energy associated with a truck striking a regular passenger vehicle cause truck accident victims to suffer severe injuries. Common truck accident injuries include:
Burns Nerve damage Fractured bones Traumatic brain injuries Neck and back injuries Possible Recoverable Damages from a Truck Accident Claim
Under Connecticut law, personal injury victims can claim compensatory and general damages. A claim for compensatory damages includes the medical bills a victim incurred along with their lost wages. If you were injured due to a collision with a commercial truck, you can seek general damages for the pain and suffering you experienced due to your injuries.
Common Questions About Trucking Accident Claims
A truck accident is often a life-defining event. This is because of the severe disruptions a truck accident will have on a victim’s life. The New Britain-based trucking collision attorneys at Carter Mario Law Firm have been advising injured victims on navigating the personal injury process for over 30 years.
Is There a Statute of Limitations on Filing a Truck Accident Claim?
Per 52-584, personal injury claims in Connecticut are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. This means you have two years from the date of your accident to sue the truck driver. If you fail to file a lawsuit within this two-year window, you will lose your right to pursue a case.
Can You Sue an Individual Driver or Trucking Company for an Accident?
You can sue the truck driver under a simple negligence theory. If the truck driver was a direct employee of the trucking company, you can also sue the trucking company via a
respondeat superior claim. If the trucking company failed to maintain the vehicle, you could also sue the trucking company for failing to maintain the truck. Talk with a Truck Accident Attorney Serving New Britain at Carter Mario Today
The New Britain truck accident attorneys at Carter Mario Law Firm have been successfully representing injured victims for over 30 years. Our attorneys know how to build and prepare strong truck accident lawsuits. To begin the process of building your case, contact us today!


Introduction
As part of the programme of Experience Panels research, additional work is being undertaken with seldom heard groups who have distinct experiences and needs that may not be covered in the main Experience Panels.
[1 2]This project is part of that work, and has a focus on ethnic minorities – who face particular barriers to accessing public services.
The purpose of this research was to explore a diverse range of views and experiences of accessing public support and the benefits system. It was also to ask participants about how Social Security Scotland could be designed to make sure it is accessible to ethnic minorities in Scotland.
It should be noted that much of the fieldwork for this research took place in a context where Social Security Scotland was yet to publicly open as an agency. As a result, the findings should be considered to outline a range of longstanding barriers faced by ethnic minority groups. The findings should not be considered to represent an evaluation of any specific benefit or service currently being delivered by Social Security Scotland or the UK Government.
More than 130 participants took part in 20 focus groups across 5 events in Scotland. Interpreters were provided where needed, and focus groups were conducted in English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Nepalese, Cantonese, and Mandarin. The first phase of this work specifically targeted older people with English as a second language, a group facing particular barriers. This was widened to all ages and to include people with English as their first language for later events. Scottish Government researchers conducted these research sessions between March 2018 and September 2019.
This report details the findings and key themes that emerged from this work. It also outlines how the insights and suggestions in this research are being used to shape the service that Social Security Scotland offers to ethnic minorities.
Contact There is a problem Thanks for your feedback


Biosensors with Printed Active Layer Felippe J. Pavinatto
Biosensors are thriving in the detection and precise quantification of a plethora of analytes ranging from water contaminants to biologicals inside the human body. This kind of bioelectronic device has at its heart a thin film with a biomolecule in its composition (active layer), which interacts with the sample to be analyzed and confers specificity and sensitivity to the devices. Here, we review the use of printing techniques to deposit the active layer, emphasizing the advantages and remarkable outcomes of this procedure. After an initial introduction of the main concepts, we discuss the most important aspects of the formulation of bioinks suitable for printing bioactive films. It is stressed that a proper choice of additives is vital for both attaining good printability and preserving functionality of the biomolecules. Moreover, printing conditions must be controlled to avoid further damage to the biological materials. The choice of the printing method depends on the requirements for the target device architecture. For instance, inkjet printing is the method of choice when high resolution features are sought. However, for fast, high throughput fabrication of large-area devices, roll-to-roll (R2R)-compatible mastered methods from the graphics industry (flexography and gravure) are more adequate. Several examples of application are given, and the advantages of using a specific printing method are highlighted in terms of devices performance. Overall, our goal is to illustrate how printing is versatile and effective to fabricate high-end devices through simple and technologically viable processes.
Keywords: Bioelectronics, Biosensors, Biomolecules, Printed Electronics, Inkjet, Rotogravure


I have been working in development for more than 12 years, after making a switch from the private sector, where I had worked for 8 years. Within the development sector, I have worked for different NGOs across multiple African countries. Currently, I’m the country director for Pact in Nigeria. In my development sector career, I have experienced different development programming approaches but the one that has stuck with the most is Pact’s focus on and prioritization of local solutions. This is an approach that is able to achieve sustainable and transformative change mainly because it emphasizes working with beneficiaries and enabling them to apply their own solutions to their challenges. It is one of Pact’s three core values and one I’m proud to support in Nigeria.
Being an ethnically diverse and highly populated nation, Nigeria presents a lot of complexities. Despite such challenges, I am motivated by the spirit of the people, who are eager to face their many challenges, and are dedicated to pursuing better livelihoods. Pact has been working hand-in-hand with the government, communities and local organizations for more than a decade to support democracy building and improvement in primary health delivery while facilitating economic development at both the macro and micro levels.
We believe in collaboration, and we believe that a diverse array of local voices should guide us as we set priorities and plans for the future.
To that end, last week, the Pact Nigeria team convened a panel discussion that was attended by more than 40 international development organizations, state and federal government, multilateral and bilateral donors, local NGOs and civil society and private foundations. Participants represented a variety of sectors, including health, governance, security, natural resource management, emergency and humanitarian aid, livelihoods and economic growth. The panel discussion had four sessions that grappled with the theme: “The Role of the Development Sector in Nigeria’s Evolving Challenges.” Discussions focused on emerging development sector challenges, engagement among development stakeholders, innovative strategies in the development sector, and partnerships and sustainability for development.
The conversations provided government officials with additional information and insights into key issues needing attention on the national development agenda. The panel discussion also provided an open space for development stakeholders to collectively explore solutions. For Pact, the panel discussion also sought to identify key needs, challenges and evolutions in the Nigeria development sector, which will guide the country office’s three-year strategy review, which took place a day after the panel discussion. This was part of ensuring that the 2017-2020 Pact Nigeria country strategy will support Nigeria’s development priorities.
From the panel discussion, it was encouraging to note the passion and intention by all stakeholders to address development challenges to better serve the people of Nigeria. As we move forward, the people of Nigeria know best what their challenges are, and how best to address those challenges. This was unanimously supported during the panel discussions. As development professionals, we should support local ownership and local solutions, supporting them with the necessary information, tools and skills to succeed.
Because, when we work together and in partnership with those we serve, we create meaningful, lasting impact.
Hear more insights from the discussion participants in this brief video:


A person’s personality is a combination of characteristics, beliefs, and behavior styles that make them unique. Their perceptions of the world, thoughts, feelings, and attitudes are part of that personality. Personality grows more consistent with age but does not ever become fixed. Accounting for nearly 10% of the U.S. population, individuals with personality disorders have…Details
Mental health experts describe personality as characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that make us unique individuals. Personality characteristics tend to remain consistent over time. A personality disorder affects how a person thinks or acts, resulting in behavior that deviates from cultural norms and impairs healthy functioning. Individuals with personality disorders experience severe dysfunction…Details
Millions of Americans suffer from anxiety disorders. A panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by panic attacks. Many people think of anxiety attacks and panic attacks as the same, but they are different conditions. While anxiety attacks have a slow onset, triggered by anticipation of a stressful event, panic attacks come on…Details
Seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder is depression triggered by the changing seasons. Seasonal depression usually begins in the fall when the days are shorter and darker, and people spend less time outdoors. Seasonal depression can worsen over the winter months and resolve in the spring. Research indicates that about five percent of American adults…Details
Even though bipolar disorder is among the most common mood disorders, it is frequently undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Much like people saying they are depressed when they feel sad, the term bipolar is often used casually to describe a moody person. However, this phrase significantly detracts from the severity of the disorder. Individuals with bipolar disorder…Details
Person-centered therapy (PCT), also known as client-centered therapy or Rogerian therapy, is a non-directive humanistic approach to treatment. Carl Rogers developed person-centered therapy in the 1940s and 1950s. The term non-directive refers to the therapist’s role in this approach and means that they do not direct the course of sessions but rather participate as active…Details
November is National Family Caregivers month. This recognition is celebrated during the month of November, likely because Thanksgiving is the perfect time to “give thanks” for what they do. (THANK YOU!) There are over 53 million Americans who are unpaid caregivers to family, friends, and neighbors. Twenty-seven percent of adult caregivers are helping someone with…Details
The term depression often is misused. Many people say they are depressed when they are sad. However, sadness is a normal emotion that we all experience in reaction to events that are upsetting or cause emotional pain. Sadness can vary in degree, but, like other emotions, it is a temporary feeling that passes. When you…Details
Psychological trauma is your response to an event that challenges your sense of safety and leaves you feeling overwhelmed. The body’s natural defenses take over during a traumatic event and create a stress reaction known as the fight or flight response, leading to various physical symptoms and intense emotional reactions. The symptoms of trauma usually…Details
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders among Americans, falling on a broad spectrum of severity. Since the onset of COVID-19, people of all ages and walks of life report experiencing more frequent or consistent feelings of anxiety. Often, the fear and worry from anxiety cause people to feel paralyzed and unable to…Details


The National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office (Southeast Regional Office) is seeking proposals under the Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training (Gulf of Mexico B-WET) Program:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/grant/noaa-gulf-mexico-bay-watershed-education-and-training-gulf-b-wet-program.The
credit:
B-WET program is an environmental education program that promotes place-based experiential learning for K–12 students and related professional development for teachers.
B-WET fosters the growth of new, innovative programs and encourages capacity-building and environmental education partnerships.The primary delivery of B-WET is through competitive grants that promote Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs).
The MWEE is a learner-centered framework that focuses on investigations into local environmental issues and leads to informed action.MWEEs are composed of multiple components that include learning both outdoors and in the classroom, and are designed to increase the environmental literacy by actively engaging students in building knowledge and meaning through hands-on experiences.
In these experiences, the core ideas of multiple disciplines are applied to make sense of the relationships between the natural world and society.
MWEEs help connect students with their local environment and equip them to make decisions and take actions that contribute to stronger, sustainable, and equitable communities.The FY22 Gulf of Mexico B-WET funding announcement focuses on the following priority areas:
1) Professional Development for Teachers related to Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences, 2) Exemplary Programs combining Teacher Professional Development with Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences for their students, 3) Systemic Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience Implementation, and 4) Capacity Building for Expanded Statewide K-12 Environmental Literacy Initiatives.Again this year, the Gulf of Mexico B-WET funding announcement emphasizes our strong commitment to expanding the participation of marginalized communities in watershed education and is interested in projects that partner specifically with organizations and institutions that serve marginalized groups, particularly minority communities.
It continues to recognize the significant impact COVID-19 has had on the ability of environmental education providers to engage with schools and is committed to responding to the immediate needs of this pandemic and supporting critical institutions that provide meaningful experiences for youth at all levels.
And, it suggests that the MWEE framework can contribute to one of the most pressing economic, social and environmental issues of today - climate change - by directly fostering climate knowledge and competencies to contribute to climate solutions.


Technological advances are rapidly creating opportunities for companies to produce more with less labor. This creates efficiencies but also raises a wide range of economic and social questions. How can an individual business take advantage of the opportunities automation offers while also ensuring that employment is maintained, new skills are developed, and communities retain the economic vitality they need to thrive?


A recent study revealed the association between hair straightening chemicals and an increased risk of uterine cancer. This study was conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The observations of the study reported the harmful side effects of chemicals used in the hair straightening process including its risk in the causation of uterine cancer in women.
Before this, other studies linked hair straightening chemicals to the increased risk of hormonal cancers such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Now, this recent study established the link between straightening product chemicals and uterine cancer. The study included 33497 female participants aged from 35-74 years.
The study was led by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the participants were observed for 11 years. During the observational periods, almost 378 cases of uterine cancer were reported in female participants.
The study outcomes estimate that the risk of uterine cancer development was significantly higher in females who use hair straightening products as compared to those who don’t. The risk of uterine cancer was two times increased in the females who frequently use hair straightening products.
Talking on this, Alexandra White, lead author and Head of the NIEHS Environment and Epidemiology group said, “We estimated that 1.64% of women who never used hair straighteners would go on to develop uterine cancer by the age of 70; but for frequent users, that risk goes up to 4.05%,”
“This doubling rate is concerning. However, it is important to put this information into context - uterine cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer.” White added. Researchers also suggested that several chemicals might be contributors to uterine cancer in females including parabens, bisphenol A, metals, and formaldehyde. However, no specific products were identified during the study.
“To our knowledge, this is the first epidemiologic study that examined the relationship between straightener use and uterine cancer,” said White. She also said, “More research is needed to confirm these findings in different populations, to determine if hair products contribute to health disparities in uterine cancer, and to identify the specific chemicals that may be increasing the risk of cancers in women.”


Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, stated that its startup community has raised Dhs1.5bn in funding since its creation and secured Dhs30m in 2021 through more than 20 corporate transactions.
The company’s businesses have a combined worth of Dhs5.87bn, and almost 1,000 jobs have been generated since its establishment in 2019, a statement said.
Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, chairman of Hub71, said: “Following Hub71’s 191 per cent startup growth in 2020, Abu Dhabi has emerged stronger as a technological and innovative economy characterised by progress. Entrepreneurship will be a key cornerstone of a sustainable economy, and if the quality of Hub71’s founders are anything to go by, we have every confidence the tech ecosystem will continue to attract long-term investment, international partnerships and companies exceeding the one-billion-dollar valuation mark.”
— Hub71 (@hub71ad) March 23, 2022
“As we work toward achieving the UAE’s ambition of becoming an entrepreneurial nation by 2031, Hub71’s strong performance in 2021 exemplifies the enabling business environment we have established in Abu Dhabi. We aim to position technology companies for growth, and our priority remains to enable a flexible and favourable business environment that supports creative ideas and scales solutions to address society’s most pressing challenges.”
From January to December 2021, Hub71’s
Impact Report provides insights into Abu Dhabi’s technology ecosystem and its impact on the wider community, economy and society. Hub71’s community includes startups from 25 nations across 18 diverse sectors, ranging from fintech, robotics, artificial intelligence and big data to healthtech, agtech and cybersecurity.
As part of its mission to build a community of globally enduring tech companies and position Abu Dhabi as a leading tech hub, the company has connected founders with investors and funds and contributed Dhs36m through its various initiatives to ease the startup journey in Abu Dhabi.
Hub71 startups concluded 32 funding rounds, including a Dhs154m Series-A round for Trella, and Dhs110m Series-B rounds for BitOasis, the cryptocurrency platform, and Securrency, the blockchain-based financial infrastructure firm, to support their development across the UAE and the region. In addition, through The Outliers initiative, which seeks solutions to challenges set by corporate and government partners, seven proof of concepts (POCs) have been successfully developed, and three multimillion-dirham partnerships have been made.
Badr Al-Olama, the acting CEO of Hub71, commented: “Our Impact Report demonstrates how much progress Hub71 startups have achieved over the past year. Founders play an immense role in Abu Dhabi by defining the future of technology that is capturing the imagination of a city full of ambition. At Hub71, we partner with founders who are scaling the leading businesses of tomorrow that are inspiring new ways to advance sectors and influence how we do things. Impact has been our number one aim, and we are firmly committed to it as our community contributes to the UAE’s next 50 years as a catalyst for growth, transformation and disruption.”


For ecommerce businesses, it’s crucial to have a unified customer experience. When onboarding is intuitive but navigating the shopper portal isn’t, customers notice. When support is responsive and helpful but refunds are challenging to navigate, customers notice. When the checkout experience is seamless but shipping is confusing, customers notice.
For physical ecommerce businesses, shipping is critical to get right to ensure customers receive the products they want on the timeline—and at the price—that they expect. To win your customers over, your shipping must align with your overall customer experience so your shoppers have positive experiences with your brand. For Shopify businesses, shipping rates are determined in Shopify but other subscription checkout functionality is controlled in Recharge.
We brought in experts Chelsea Jones and Rachel Saul from industry-leading agency Chelsea & Rachel Co. to ensure your shipping setup runs smoothly. Read on to explore their insights on how to avoid common shipping pitfalls and create the best customer shipping experience possible.
Key takeaways
Shipping is a crucial part of your overall customer experience. To keep your customers with your business, your shipping experience should be intuitive and clearly communicated. For merchants with the Shopify Checkout Integration, shipping profiles are a key part of your overall DTC strategy. Three common shipping pitfalls & how to avoid them ISSUE #1: Setting discrepancies between first & subsequent shipments
For merchants using the Shopify Checkout Integration, your customers’ first transaction will pull in shipping settings from Shopify. Each subsequent transaction then pulls the shipping settings from Recharge. Often, brands aren’t aware of this discrepancy between their customers’ first order and second, third, fourth, and other future orders, which can cause confusion and create a negative customer experience.
The solution: Set up both shipping profiles on a weight basis, which doesn’t change, rather than charging a flat fee, which can fluctuate.
ISSUE #2: Shipping charges for subscription vs. one-time products
Similarly to the issue above, shipping rates for subscriptions on the first shipment are pulled from Shopify, while subsequent shipping rates for subscriptions are pulled from Recharge. However, Recharge does not handle any costs for shipping one-time products—all of those rates will be pulled from Shopify.
The solution: Use a Shopify discount code for the first subscription shipment that auto applies to subscription orders. Then, ensure shipping rates are set up appropriately in Recharge so all subsequent rates are accurate.
ISSUE #3: Free shipping for subscriptions but not one-time purchases
Many brands want to provide free shipping for subscription orders but not for one-time purchases. The only solution here is to hide shipping rates in Shopify via Shopify Scripts. Note: For this to work, the merchant must be on Shopify Plus.
For example, let’s say a Shopify Plus merchant wants to offer free shipping for their subscription orders, but the first order on Shopify doesn’t have a toggle for free shipping. By selecting “If subscription product, then free shipping” in Shopify Scripts, they can eliminate the shipping fee for subscription orders but not for one-time purchases.
The importance of shipping profiles
With all the brands they work with, Chelsea and Rachel emphasize that shipping profiles are a crucial part of the overall DTC strategy. In fact, if you’re upgrading to the Shopify Checkout Integration, shipping profiles are one of the first things you should align with your customer experience.
While merchants and customers alike often assume shipping will “just work,” this critical element of logistics requires careful consideration—just like any element of your customer experience.
Finally, to provide an industry-leading shipping experience, be sure to constantly A/B test and optimize your shipping rates. They should be reevaluated constantly—not just when a problem occurs—to deliver a best-in-class experience.
All together, these efforts keep your subscribers with your business, allowing you to foster the types of long-term customer relationships that lead to higher lifetime value, greater customer satisfaction, and reduced churn.


Abstract
Background: Previously, a theoretical model based on microvascular physiology was established to facilitate the interpretation of calf perfusion dynamics recorded by arterial spin labeling (ASL). Purpose: To investigate the clinical relevance of novel perfusion indices by comparing them to the symptoms, response to revascularization, and short-term functional outcome in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Study Type: Prospective cohort study. Population: Nineteen patients with PAD. Field Strength/Sequence: Pulsed ASL at 3T. Assessment: The mid-calf reactive hyperemia induced by 2 minutes of arterial occlusion was recorded in PAD patients. The perfusion responses were characterized by the peak, time-to-peak, and physiological model-derived indices including the baseline perfusion f
r , arterial resistance R a , and compliance C a , and sensitivity g ATP and response time τ ATP of downstream microvasculature to metabolic stress. These indices were compared to the disease severity and outcome within 6 months after revascularization assessed by self-reported symptoms and the ankle-brachial index. Disease severity was categorized as asymptomatic, claudication, or critical limb ischemia. The outcome was categorized as symptom resolved or limited improvement. Statistical Tests: Severity and outcome groups were compared using Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests with Holm–Sidak adjustments. Results: The peak perfusion decreased and model arterial resistance increased progressively with increasing severity of limb ischemia (P = 0.0402 and 0.0413, respectively). Eleven patients had a successful endovascular procedure, including six patients who had symptoms resolved, four patients who had remaining leg pain, and one patient lost to follow-up. The subjects with limited improvement had significantly lower preintervention microvascular sensitivity g ATP than those with symptoms resolved (8.72 ± 1.46 vs. 4.93 ± 0.91, P = 0.0466). Data Conclusion: ASL reactive hyperemia reflects multiple aspects of the pathophysiology. Measures of macrovascular arterial disease are related to the manifested symptom severity, whereas preintervention g ATP associated with microvascular dysfunction is related to prognosis following revascularization. Level of Evidence: 1. Technical Efficacy: Stage 4. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1578–1588. Keywords arterial spin labeling muscle perfusion peripheral arterial disease reactive hyperemia ASJC Scopus subject areas Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging


Publications
Publications
June 2012 Strategic Management Journal Meta-Organizational Design: Rethinking Design in Inter-Organizational and Community Contexts Abstract
This paper provides conceptual foundations for analyzing organizations comprising multiple legally autonomous entities, which we call meta-organizations. We assess the antecedents of the emergence of such collectives and the design choices they entail. The paper identifies key parameters on which such meta-organizations' designs differ from each other. It also presents a taxonomy that elucidates how such forms of collective action vary and the constraints they must address to be successful. We conclude with implications for research on meta-organizational design.
Keywords Citation
Gulati, Ranjay, Phanish Puranam, and Michael Tushman. "Meta-Organizational Design: Rethinking Design in Inter-Organizational and Community Contexts." Special Issue on Strategy and the Design of Organizational Architecture edited by R. Gulati, P. Puranam, M. Tushman.
Strategic Management Journal33, no. 6 (June 2012): 571–586.


On July 2, Kaseya announced that attackers had taken advantage of a vulnerability in the company's VSA software to level a ransomware attack against the company's customers. Kaseya VSA is a remote monitoring and management tool for networks and endpoints, and the software is widely used by managed service providers (MSPs).
The Kaseya supply chain attack has potential implications for not only MSPs using the VSA solution, but also for their customers. While the full scale of the attack is still coming to light, Kaseya today released an update stating that approximately 50 of its MSP customers are known to be directly affected. However, the press release goes on to state that about 800 to 1,500 customers of the affected MSPs have been operationally impacted thus far.
With over 35,000 companies using Kaseya software, it is possible that some of your third parties are too. Therefore, it is essential that you assess the potential impact to your third parties so you can mitigate the possible exposure of your company’s data. Prevalent has curated a 8-question assessment that can be leveraged to rapidly identify any potential impacts to your business by determining which of your third parties was affected and what actions they are taking.
Questions Potential Responses
(Please select one.)
a) Yes, we have been impacted as a result of the recent Kaseya VSA Supply-Chain Ransomware Attack.
b) No, we have not been impacted as a result of the recent Kaseya VSA Supply-Chain Ransomware Attack.
(Please select one.)
a) Yes, the organization has shut down potentially affected on-premise VSA servers.
b) No, the organization has not currently shut down any potentially affected on-premises VSA servers.
c) The organization does not have any on-premise VSA servers.
(Please select one.)
a) The organization is a managed service provider (MSP) of the Kaseya VSA RMM tool.
b) The organization is a customer of a Kaseya RMM managed service provider (MSP).
(Please select all that apply.)
a) We have downloaded the Kaseya VSA Detection Tool.
b) We have enforced and enabled multi-factor authentication (MFA) on every account that is under the control of the organization.
c) We have enforced and enabled MFA for customer-facing services.
d) We have implemented allowlisting to limit communication with remote monitoring and management (RMM) capabilities to known IP address pairs.
e) We have placed administrative interfaces of RMM behind a virtual private network (VPN) or a firewall on a dedicated administrative network.
(Please select all that apply.)
a) We have ensured that backups are up to date and stored in an easily retrievable location that is air-gapped from the organizational network.
b) We have implemented a manual patch management process that follows vendor remediation guidance, including the installation of new patches as soon as they become available.
c) We have implemented multi-factor authentication on key network resource admin accounts.
d) We have implemented the principle of least privilege on key network resources admin accounts.
(Please select all that apply.)
a) The organization has a documented incident management policy.
b) The incident management policy includes rules for reporting information security events and weaknesses.
c) An incident response plan is developed as part of incident investigation and recovery.
d) Incident response planning includes escalation procedures to internal parties and communication procedures to clients.
Name:
Title:
Email:
Phone:
(Please select one.)
a) There has been no impact to client systems or data following this attack.
b) There has been a low impact to client systems or data following this attack.
c) There is a high level of impact to client systems or data following this attack.
d) There has been significant impact to client systems or data following this attack.
Free Guide: 8 Steps to a Third-Party Incident Response Plan
When one of your critical vendors is breached, being ready with a prescriptive incident response plan is essential to preventing your company from becoming the next victim.
Prevalent recently introduced the Third-Party Incident Response Service, a solution that helps to rapidly identify and mitigate the impact of supply chain breaches like the Kaseya attack by providing a platform to centrally manage vendors, conduct targeted event-specific assessments, score identified risks, and access remediation guidance. Prevalent offers this solution as a managed service to enable your team to offload the collection of critical response data so they can focus on remediating risks instead.
Complementing the Incident Response Service is Prevalent’s continuous cyber and business breach monitoring that provides regular updates on breach disclosures, adverse news events, and cyber incidents such as malicious dark web activity about your vendors.
Together, these solutions help to automate breach impact discovery and accelerate response.


Every May since 1962 when President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial day the nation has celebrated National Police week.
(1)
This is a time to recognize those law enforcement officers who have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty to protect us and ensure our safety. This is also a time to remind of us the roles peace officers play in maintaining peace and protecting people against crimes and terrorism.
In the health care profession we often work closely with law enforcement officers. We call on them to help protect vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly.
So as we move into National Police week (May 15- May 21) we ask everyone to take time and thank police and other peace officers. They often have a thankless job, and we appreciate their sacrifice to ensure our safety.


Thirteen States Across America Remove Controversial X-Lite Guardrail Heads from Highways After Accidents Raise Safety Concerns August 31, 2018 Sandy Thirteen States Across America Remove Controversial X-Lite Guardrail Heads from Highways After Accidents Raise Safety Concerns
After multiple tragic car accidents across the country resulted in fatalities due to guardrail heads spearing cars and taking them off the roads, thirteen states are responding by banning the Lindsay X-LITE end caps from state highways.
Linday’s X-LITE guardrail heads
The Federal Highway Administration first approved the X-LITE guardrail head in 2011 after it had been tested and deemed safe to install. Now, after fatalities across the country, many states are taking them off the roads.
When a car hits a guardrail, the “end terminal” or cap on the end is supposed to act like an accordion and absorb the car’s impact, according to San Diego car accident attorneys. Designed to protect drivers, the metal railing has instead penetrated through multiple car windshields and doors, resulting in deaths and injuries all over the country.
In a recent San Diego car accident, photos taken by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) show a guardrail pierced through the car’s windshield, ripped out the driver’s headrest and continued through the rear window, extended out at least 20 feet, according to San Diego’s NBC 7.
Department of Transportation bans X-LITE terminal ends in 13 states
Many states’ Department of Transportation (DOT) are responding to these tragic accidents by banning the X-LITE terminal ends. In thirteen states, including California, DOTs have removed the X-LITE guardrail end terminal from its qualified products list, meaning they can no longer be replaced or installed.
Unfortunately, there still remains the thousands of X-LITE end terminal guardrails already installed across the country that could stay in place for years.
The good news is these states are now requiring stricter crash testing standards, known as MASH, according to the Federal Highway Administration and the Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
After Lindsay Transportation Solutions denied an interview with San Diego NBC 7, a list of questions was sent to the company for more information. A spokesperson from Lindsay said, “Guardrail end terminals are designed to mitigate the risk of hitting fixed objects such as utility poles, steep embankments, and other unyielding objects when a driver leaves the road, but they cannot eliminate all the risks involved with an unintended exit.”
Despite the controversy over the Lindsay X-LITE end terminals, San Diego car accident attorneys at The Barnes Firm urge Americans to drive safely. If you’d like to talk with an experienced local attorney about dangerous guardrail accidents and traffic safety, call The Barnes Firm at 1-800-800-000.


When you are sick or injured, you seek medical care to feel better. Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may prescribe opioids or other drugs to help you manage symptoms while you recover.
However, what happens when the doctor stops ordering your drugs? For some, restricted access to previously available substances can lead to serious drug crimes.
Addiction
Many people develop a dependency on medications after following a legitimate prescription protocol. Some of the most common and most addictive drugs include:
Vicodin OxyContin Percocet Demerol Darvocet Doctor shopping
Many addicts attempt to gain access to their preferred drugs by doctor shopping or making numerous visits to various clinics in hopes of attaining a prescription. These patients will lie to medical practitioners, misrepresenting or embellishing symptoms in desperate attempts to attain their next fix.
The Uniform Narcotic Drug Act prohibits doctor shopping, and doctors who fail to check for signs of abuse before issuing prescriptions for opioids, narcotics or other serious medications may also face criminal charges.
Drug sharing
Even if your intentions are good, letting someone else take your medications is a serious health risk because you have no knowledge of that person’s medical history, allergies or potential drug interactions. For this reason, distributing drugs without a medical license is a crime. Therefore, sharing your personal prescription medication with another person is against federal and Tennessee state law.
A drug conviction can have a lasting impact on your future. If you are struggling with dependency on prescription medication, it is important to seek treatment before your addiction takes control of every aspect of your life.